Thread-guard for stop-motions.



F. CRAWFORD, Sn. THREAD GUARD FOR STOP MOTIONS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAYH. 1911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

. nn-trap if? FRANK CRAWFORD, SR., OF HIGHLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRAW- FORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, GT5 NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THREAD-GUARD FOR STOP-MOTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed May 17,1917. Serial No. 169,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CRAWFORD, S12, a citizen of the United States, residing in Highland Park, Middlesex county, State of New Jersey, have invented Thread-Guards for Stop-Motions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stop motions for knitting machines and more particularly constitutes an improvement to the thread guard for stop motions for which a patcut was granted me February 22, 1916, #1172950.

One object of the inventionis to so construct or form th thread guard and guiding structure as to reduce the friction between it and the thread, and thereby lessen the likelihood of the latter being cut or broken.

Another object of the invention is to so form the thread guard for the fork of a stop motion as to in a large measure prevent the thread from getting out of said fork un der operating conditions while permitting its convenient insertion in said fork.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thread guard constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the forkand guard-supporting frame of the stop motion, showing the thread guard partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. d is a plan, partly in section, illustrating a modification of my invention.

in the above drawings, 1 represents a horizontally projecting arm which at one end is supported by or formed as part of the head of a stop motion (not shown) of the general type described and claimed in my patent above noted, and this arm provides bearings for a substantially horizontal spindle 6 whose outer end 2 projects downwardly into position to be engaged by one end or arm of a fork 4:. This fork consists of a bell crank lever whose second and outwardly projecting arm 5 is branched to receive the thread as it passes from the bobbin, through certain other members of the stop motion, to the needles of a knitting machine.

in order to prevent th thread from jumping out of or becoming disengaged from the crotch of the arm 5, I mount on the supporting structure 1 a thread guard 7 which preferably consists of stiff metal strip having one end fixed to the underside of said structure by a screw or bolt 8. From this latter said strip extends horizontally outward to a point adjacent and between the ends of the branches of the arm 5 of the fork, from whence it curves upwardly and back to the top of the structure 1 to which its second end is held by a screw 9.

According to my present invention the edge of the outer end of the bottom section 1.0 of the guard 7 is pressed or dented upwardly in a substantially semi-conical form, opposite and immediately adjacent the crotch 5 of the fork with which it cooperates, to define a partially closed opening or passageway for the thread. This latter however may be quickly and conveniently introduced into this passageway by being placed over and moved inwardly on the outer and somewhat elongated branch 11 of the fork until it lies in the crotch thereof. The inner part of the edge portion of this branch is turned up and rounded as indicated at 12, and the semi-conical projecting portion 13 of the guard is likewise so made as to have no sharp edges capable of engaging with the thread.

While I preferably indent or press up the bottom section of the thread guard as above described, it is to be understood that as shown in Fig. 4, it may without departing from my invention, merely have an indentation or recess 14 in its edge adjacent the fork, in place of the semi-conical projection, and while the edges of such recess are preferably rounded or so formed as to minimize any possible cutting action upon the thread, it may in some cases be employed without this feature if desired.

I claim 1. The combination in a thread guide for a stop motion of a knitting machine, of aguard having a curved upper section and a straight bottom section, the bottom section being notched so as to act as a guard for the thread; and apivoted. forl'rextending into. the space between the two members of the guide and connected to the stop mechanism.

The combination in a thread guide for the stop motion of a knitting machine; of a guard consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having a curved upper portion and a horizontal lower portion, the lower portion having a semi-conical projection forming a notch for the thread; and a pivoted fork ex tending into the space between the two memhers of the guide and connected to the stop mechanism." I

In witness whereof IafliXnrysignature.

FRANK CRAWFORD, SENIOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 17.0." 

